This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by FERREE, M. M. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

The Gender Division of Labor in Two-Earner Marriages

Dimensions of Variability and Change

University of Connecticut

Recent data on the division of domestic labor is examined, suggesting that the inevitability of a "second shift" for wives in dual-earner couples may be overstated. The allocation of paid work more to husbands and housework more to wives creates a combined work week that is, on average, balanced but gender specialized. However, there is also important variation among couples. Some employed wives do face a "double day," but others are in more equitable arrangements. The implicitly and explicitly gendered expectations that both husbands and wives bring to thinking about housework play a significant role in shaping the degree of egalitarianism in practice.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. A. Johnson and M. S. Johnson New City Domesticity and the Tenacious Second Shift Journal of Family Issues, April 1, 2008; 29(4): 487 - 515. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. Gaunt Maternal Gatekeeping: Antecedents and Consequences Journal of Family Issues, March 1, 2008; 29(3): 373 - 395. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. M. Ogletree, J. B. Worthen, G. M. Turner, and V. Vickers Developing an Attitudes Toward Housecleaning Scale: Gender Comparisons and Counseling Applications The Family Journal, October 1, 2006; 14(4): 400 - 407. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. Kaufman and H. Taniguchi Gender and Marital Happiness in Later Life Journal of Family Issues, June 1, 2006; 27(6): 735 - 757. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Cunningham Gender in Cohabitation and Marriage: The Influence of Gender Ideology on Housework Allocation Over the Life Course Journal of Family Issues, November 1, 2005; 26(8): 1037 - 1061. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. Beaujot and J. Liu Models of Time Use in Paid and Unpaid Work Journal of Family Issues, October 1, 2005; 26(7): 924 - 946. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. R. Solomon, A. C. Acock, and A. J. Walker Gender Ideology and Investment in Housework: Postretirement Change Journal of Family Issues, November 1, 2004; 25(8): 1050 - 1071. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Zuo Shifting the Breadwinning Boundary: The Role of Men's Breadwinner Status and Their Gender Ideologies Journal of Family Issues, September 1, 2004; 25(6): 811 - 832. [Abstract] [PDF]

				O. Sullivan Changing Gender Practices within the Household: A Theoretical Perspective Gender Society, April 1, 2004; 18(2): 207 - 222. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Dixon and M. Wetherell On Discourse and Dirty Nappies: Gender, the Division of Household Labour and the Social Psychology of Distributive Justice Theory Psychology, April 1, 2004; 14(2): 167 - 189. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. E. L. Dilworth Predictors of Negative Spillover from Family to Work Journal of Family Issues, March 1, 2004; 25(2): 241 - 261. [Abstract] [PDF]

				Y. Youm and E. O. Laumann The Effect of Structural Embeddedness on the Division of Household Labor: A Game-Theoretic Model Using a Network Approach Rationality and Society, May 1, 2003; 15(2): 243 - 280. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. G. ELLISON and J. P. BARTKOWSKI Conservative Protestantism and the Division of Household Labor among Married Couples Journal of Family Issues, November 1, 2002; 23(8): 950 - 985. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. C. BARNETT and K. C. GAREIS Full-time and Reduced-hours Work Schedules and Marital Quality: A Study of Female Physicians with Young Children Work and Occupations, August 1, 2002; 29(3): 364 - 379. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. Dempsey Who gets the best deal from marriage: women or men? Journal of Sociology, June 1, 2002; 38(2): 91 - 110. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. Diefenbach Gender Ideologies, Relative Resources, and the Division of Housework in Intimate Relationships: A Test of Hyman Rodman's Theory of Resources in Cultural Context International Journal of Comparative Sociology, February 1, 2002; 43(1): 45 - 64. [Abstract] [PDF]

				N. GERSTEL and S. K. GALLAGHER MEN'S CAREGIVING: Gender and the Contingent Character of Care Gender Society, April 1, 2001; 15(2): 197 - 217. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. E. Szinovacz and A. Davey Retirement Effects on Parent-Adult Child Contacts Gerontologist, April 1, 2001; 41(2): 191 - 200. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				L. C. SAYER and S. M. BIANCHI Women's Economic Independence and the Probability of Divorce: A Review and Reexamination Journal of Family Issues, October 1, 2000; 21(7): 906 - 943. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. STIER and N. LEWIN-EPSTEIN Women's Part-Time Employment and Gender Inequality in the Family Journal of Family Issues, April 1, 2000; 21(3): 390 - 410. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. KAUFMAN Do Gender Role Attitudes Matter?: Family Formation and Dissolution Among Traditional and Egalitarian Men and Women Journal of Family Issues, January 1, 2000; 21(1): 128 - 144. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. F. PITTMAN, W. TENG, J. L. KERPELMAN, and C. A. SOLHEIM Satisfaction With Performance of Housework: The Roles of Time Spent, Quality Assessment, and Stress Journal of Family Issues, November 1, 1999; 20(6): 746 - 770. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Van Berkel and N. D. De Graaf By Virtue of Pleasantness? Housework and the Effects of Education Revisited Sociology, November 1, 1999; 33(4): 785 - 808. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. W. Crawford Occupational Characteristics and Marital Leisure Involvement Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, September 1, 1999; 28(1): 52 - 70. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. T. GAGER The Role of Valued Outcomes, Justifications, and Comparison Referents in Perceptions of Fairness Among Dual-Earner Couples Journal of Family Issues, September 1, 1998; 19(5): 622 - 648. [Abstract]

				S. C. ROSENBLUTH, J. M. STEIL, and J. H. WHITCOMB Marital Equality: What Does It Mean? Journal of Family Issues, May 1, 1998; 19(3): 227 - 244. [Abstract]

				Xiaohe Xu Convergence or Divergence: The Transformation of Marriage Relationships in Urban America and Urban China Journal of Asian and African Studies, January 1, 1998; 33(2): 181 - 202. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. C. BOLAK WHEN WIVES ARE MAJOR PROVIDERS: Culture, Gender, and Family Work Gender Society, August 1, 1997; 11(4): 409 - 433. [Abstract]

				R. C. BARNETT and Y.-C. SHEN Gender, High- and Low-Schedule-Control Housework Tasks, and Psychological Distress: A Study of Dual-Earner Couples Journal of Family Issues, July 1, 1997; 18(4): 403 - 428. [Abstract]

				O. SULLIVAN The Division of Housework Among "Remarried" Couples Journal of Family Issues, March 1, 1997; 18(2): 205 - 223. [Abstract]

				L. SANCHEZ and E. W. KANE Women's and Men's Constructions of Perceptions of Housework Fairness Journal of Family Issues, May 1, 1996; 17(3): 358 - 387. [Abstract]

				K. PYKE and S. COLTRANE Entitlement, Obligation, and Gratitude in Family Work Journal of Family Issues, January 1, 1996; 17(1): 60 - 82. [Abstract]

				D. JOHN, B. A. SHELTON, and K. LUSCHEN Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Perceptions of Fairness Journal of Family Issues, May 1, 1995; 16(3): 357 - 379. [Abstract]

				M. ISHII-KUNTZ and S. COLTRANE Remarriage, Stepparenting, and Household Labor Journal of Family Issues, June 1, 1992; 13(2): 215 - 233. [Abstract]